More than 80,000 displaced Fort McMurray residents may be allowed to start returning to their homes on June 1, as part of a phased re-entry plan outlined by the Alberta government on Wednesday.
Premier Rachel Notley gave details at a news conference about what the province calls “a conditional timeline” for when the population of Alberta’s oilsands capital can begin returning to the city that frightened evacuees fled two weeks ago.
The re-entry plan calls for the first residents to return on a voluntary basis on June 1, with the entire population able to return by June 15.
To accomplish that timeline, five conditions will have to be met. Those conditions include:
- That the fire is no longer a threat to the city.
- That the hospital is open and able to provide basic health services.
- That fire and police departments are operational, and 911 service is restored.
- That all roads are open to traffic and natural gas and electricity have been fully restored.
- That supplies of potable water and food are available.
At Wednesday’s news conference, Notley also announced that Fort McMurray schools will not re-open until September and said all students will be promoted to the next grade.
The wildfire, since nicknamed “The Beast,” roared into the city on May 3 and burned entire neighbourhoods, destroying more than 2,400 homes and buildings.
Since then, thousands of displaced people have been living in evacuation centres in Edmonton, Calgary and other cities, or bunking with friends or family.
Last week, the province started handing out pre-loaded debit cards — $1,250 for adults and $600 for dependants — to help evacuees pay daily expenses as they wait to return to their homes.
The wildfire that wiped out one entire neighbourhood and heavily damaged several others still blankets the region with thick smoke and has in recent days forced more evacuations from oilsands camps north of the city.
The fire has spread steadily north and east of Fort McMurray and now covers more than 423,000 hectares, an area six times the size of Edmonton.